Big system Christmas Eve!

Awesome system, with severe weather all over the place. 992mb low with just an insane upper and lower level pattern. Vertically stacked even though it is highly baroclinic. The 500mb vort map below shows another low ejecting down and south towards the main system. With a Vort lobe extending south. Not sure what this is going to mean for the whole evolution. Besides keeping alot of snow falling up in the Dakotas.

Infrared map showing cloud cover and a somewhat atypical baroclinic leaf system. With rain falling throughout, LOL besides on the backside north and northwest. You can even see the cold frontal boundry in the gulf, it appears as a sharp line of clouds extending to the south.

Satellite image earlier today, showing the intense system. It shows up as a comma type cloud pattern in the south east. With strong jet wrapping in.

Surface pattern via RUC surface analysis.

500mb winds showing strong jet wrapping into system. This long wave trough is also negatively tilted. Showing lots of potential for extreme cyclogenesis. And with the secondary upper level low, we have a secondary cold front surging south behind the first system.

What this all means. Well with an occluded front and maturing wave. We have wide spread rain and wind and on the backside a major blizzard. Luckily all severe weather should be confined to the open waters of the gulf. Widespread wind should start to over spread the western parts along with frigid temps. Winds should also start to strengthen overnight on the eastern side as this low actually curves north. Fun fun fun!